News of the day, 12/27

Hey everyone. I'll get the blog gussied up a little later. Lemme get the news to you now.

Thanks, as always, for making this the HOTTEST Auburn blog on the net.

This whole thing about Franklin's offense and how its installation will be delayed is starting to annoy me. In fact, I'm going to write a story about this for Friday's section. Some people (ie Tommy Tuberville and WR Rob Dunn) say they're waiting until February to begin implementing the new stuff. Then I get conflicting information from other players (ie WR Rod Smith and DE Sen'Derrick Marks) who say things will be nutty in the bowl game. I guess it comes down to whom you believe. You know me: I take Tuberville's side with an entire shaker of salt.

The story on Pat Sims is similar. Tuberville said two weeks ago that Sims has decided to play at Auburn in 2008. Sims kinda went back on that Wednesday, insinuating that a decision hasn't been reached. Then Tuberville today said the decision rests with Sims. No idea what to make of this. Of note: Marks, whose opinion I trust above all other players, says this is much ado about nothing and Sims will be at Auburn next season.

Sounds like TB/KR/WR Mario Fannin is hurting. The media can't watch practice, which is fine, but that means we often must rely on second-hand injury information. Fannin didn't practice on Thursday. Tuberville attributed that to a groin injury. Then he said Fannin is suffering from Achilles tendinitis. I don't know.

"He's got to be 100 percent because he's kinda like a track guy," Tuberville said. ``If they've got any kind of nick or bruise they don't feel like they can go 100 percent. He's growing up and learning more."

Funny line from WR Chris Slaughter, who apparently was quite elated after learning that Al Borges had been replaced by Tony! Toni! Toné! Franklin:

``When they first said we were bringing in a new coordinator I was like: Who are we going to get now?," Slaughter said. ``Then I heard he goes five-wide and I called my momma and said 'God was with me on this one'. She told me to just pray and I'd get my blessing, and that's what I did."

Assistant coach Greg Knox said he expects redshirt freshman Terrell Zachery, who spent the regular season in Tuberville academic "doghouse," will play against Clemson. He'll be playing slot behind Rob Dunn and Tim Hawthorne.

Tuberville said the signature gifts in his household this Christmas were Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii, Oblivion for the XBox 360 and "other stuff." I'll say this for Tucker and Troy Tuberville -- they have good taste in console games. Not that I'd ever spend hours playing GH3 or anything ...

Auburn is staying at a large chain hotel in downtown Atlanta (location redacted) that has done little to impress Marks. The sophomore said he prefers the Best Western in LaGrange, Ga., to this alleged four-star establishment. "The TVs look like they're from the 1930s," he said.